2024 in review

2024 has been a momentous year for Chambers: the year of its 70th anniversary; winning awards and continuing to strengthen existing client relationships and build new ones.

We continue to be involved in some of the most high-profile inquests and public inquiries of recent times and work with nearly every police force in England and Wales, as well as Police Scotland and PSNI. We also acted on behalf of central Government, coroners, regulators and other public authorities.

We are firmly established in our new premises and have been delighted to host clients for events and meetings. In addition to our annual Police Law Conference, we hosted two Inquests and Inquiries seminars in London and Manchester, Information Law breakfast briefings and webinars and the 70th anniversary party.

We welcomed two new Members of Chambers – former pupils J Ockenden and Millie Wild, who became tenants from September; whilst the new cohort of pupils, Stella Wojtyla and Kieron Spoors, started their pupillage and have been gaining experience across Chambers’ core practice areas.

We said a fond farewell to Richard Oulton, who retired in May; and to Kate Cornell, who was appointed as a Circuit Judge, sitting at Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square).

The expertise and standing of a number of Members of Chambers has been recognised through the following important appointments:

• Charlotte Ventham was appointed King’s Counsel
• Jonthan Dixey and Bobby Talalay have been appointed as Recorders.
• Saara Idelbi has been appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) B panel. This appointment builds on Saara’s long-term expertise and interest in civil liberties, equality, and human rights law.
• Alex Ustych has joined the Committee of the Society for Computers and Law (SCL) Public Sector Tech Group.
• Emma Price, Cicely Hayward, John Goss, Jennifer Wright and Conor Monighan have been successful in this year’s applications for promotion on or appointment to the Attorney General’s Panels of Counsel.
• Charlotte Ventham KC and Conor Monighan were awarded Commendations by the Metropolitan Police for work on firearms and Closed Material Proceedings.

5 Essex won three high-profile awards at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024 – Samantha Leek KC won the prestigious Public Law Silk of the Year category, Emma Price scooped up the impressive Junior of the Year award and Chambers won the Public Services and Charities Set of the Year. In addition, we retain our top tier status in both major directories with regards to Police Law and Inquests and Public Inquiries.

We have a number of authors in Chambers this year:

• Saara Idelbi and Paige Jones have written, ‘A Practical Guide to Non-Pecuniary Damages in Human Rights Act Claims’ which aims to demystify the question of quantum in claims made under the Human Rights Act 1998.
• Georgina Wolfe has co-authored a new chapter about the National Security and Investment Act 2021 in the 2024 edition of ‘National Security Law, Procedure and Practice’. This is in addition to the chapter that she and Charlotte Ventham KC co-wrote for the last edition.

We are proud to be the Chambers with the highest proportion of female KCs (80%) and sixth in the ‘Most BME KCs’ category at 20% according to the latest ‘Legal Cheek Most Lists’.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to all of our clients for your continued loyalty and support. Wishing you all a very peaceful and relaxing festive break.

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Jason Beer KC

Call 1992 | Silk 2011